Chico State men's basketball team falls in West Regional opener

Chico State senior Damario Sims (5) attempts a last-minute shot toward the end of his team's 69-61 loss to Cal Poly Pomona in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II West Regional tournament Friday in Bellingham, Wash. (Photo By Dan Levine/Correspondent)

BELLINGHAM, Wash. — The Chico State men's basketball team walked off the floor for the final time this season Friday in all-too-familiar fashion — with a loss at the hands of Cal Poly Pomona.

The fifth-ranked Broncos beat the Wildcats for the fourth time this season, 69-61, in the opening round of the NCAA Division II West Regional at Sam Carver Gymnasium on the campus of Western Washington University.

Damario Sims scored 21 points in his final game with the Wildcats, Rashad Parker added 15 and Jordan Semple scored 12. Chico State finished the season with a record of 19-11.

The No. 2-seeded Broncos will face No. 3 Seattle Pacific in a matchup of two of the nation's top-five teams in the regional semifinals Monday at 2:30 p.m.

Sims sank a 3-pointer with 6:09 left that gave Chico State a 53-51 lead. A Sean Park jumper with 4:39 left again stretched Chico State's lead to two.

But Anderson, the MVP of the California Collegiate Athletic Association, sank a 3-pointer on the Broncos' ensuing possession to give them the lead for good. Bryce Brady's only bucket of the game, a 3-pointer with 2:26 left, doubled Cal Poly Pomona's lead. The Broncos hit 8 of 9 free throws during the final 1:20 to put the game away.

"They're a good team," said Wildcats head coach Greg Clink. "We've taken our best shot at them four times."

Friday's game marked the final appearance for Chico State seniors Sims, Jason Conrad, Spencer Moyer, James Staniland and Jake Lovisolo.

"Those five guys have helped take this program to a new level," said Clink. "I can't tell you how proud I am to have had the opportunity to coach them. It's just a special group."